Sarah Villegas is setting the record straight on the latest controversy to engulf the sport. On Feb. 12, 2026, she fired back at industry figures who claim she baselessly accused Natalia Coelho of using PMMA (a permanent synthetic filler) to enhance her physique.
The 2025 Mr. Olympia was packed with storylines. In the Women’s Physique category, it boiled down to a showdown between Villegas and Coelho. Having displayed major growth in her quads, Coelho etched herself into history as a two-time Women’s Physique Olympia.
After coming up short in Vegas, Villegas wasted no time. She labeled Coelho an ‘OIL-ympia’ champion and accused her of using site enhancements. According to Villegas, plastics, oils, or PMMA are not legitimate muscle. Despite these tensions, the former champ stressed that she never called for Coelho’s suspension.
Her message ruffled feathers in the community. Bob Cicherillo and Shawn Ray were the first to speak up. They went as far as to claim Villegas put out a ‘smear campaign’ against Coelho, emphasizing that technically, PMMA is not a form of cheating.
Sarah Villegas Fires Back at Industry Figures Behind PMMA Controversy, Denies ‘Baseless Accusations’ Claim
In the post, Villegas provided a timeline of the events related to the controversy. She noted that someone directly connected to a PMMA clinic in Brazil provided her with information, including specific dates of procedures.
“For the record – Statements have been made by individuals speaking with institutional authority claiming that Sarah ‘manufactured baseless accusations’ related to PMMA, and that she only spoke out after losing the Olympia.
Timeline and facts – Shortly after the Olympia, a practicing medical professional came forward to Sarah in their real identity. That individual was vetted and confirmed to be directly connected to the PMMA clinic in Brazil. They provided extensive and detailed information that has never been made public, including specific dates of PMMA procedures.”
Villegas decided not to release the information publicly despite demands.
“Rather than releasing that information publicly, Sarah chose restraint. She limited her public comments to her site enhancement post addressing Natalia, to avoid collateral damage and to prevent implicating multiple athletes and connected individuals.
Despite continued public pressure to release information, that information was responsibly kept private and remains private today. This information was instead discussed confidentially with appropriate industry figures.”
After speaking with industry figures, she shared that a ‘coordinated narrative’ began in an effort to stifle her public outcry.
“Only after this information was privately shared with appropriate industry figures, and after Sarah made clear that the information would not go public, a coordinated narrative began to emerge from multiple individuals speaking with institutional authority, and with access to internal information.”
The statement also shows that Villegas made individuals aware of her concerns before Olympia, back at the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro.
“Their claims were made despite their knowledge of documented timelines, including Sarah raising these same concerns publicly on July 24, 2025, shortly after the Pittsburgh Pro, and three months before the Olympia.
When individuals who speak with institutional authority advance false statements, those statements are understood as fact, not opinion. That was not a misunderstanding. It was a choice,” the statement read.
Surprisingly, Coelho isn’t the only Olympia champ accused of using PMMA. Rumors circulated that reigning two-time titleholder Derek Lunsford also had the procedure done. His coach, Chris Aceto, has firmly denied these allegations.
Though PMMA isn’t against the rules per se, some in the sport believe it’s cheating. What do you make of the recent PMMA controversy? Let us know in the comments.
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